Shore Conference Week 8 Divisional Football Players of the Week

In addition to the reader-selected Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey Football Player of the Week, we will also be selecting Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for each of the Shore Conference’s seven divisions. We’ll also choose Shore Conference Special Teams Players of the Week to highlight any standout kicking performances or players who got it done in the return game.

Below we’ll focus on the best performances from Week 8.

SSN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 

Dan Afflitto, Sr., Rumson

Afflitto returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown during the Bulldogs’ game against Jackson Memorial.

Justin Deem, Sr., Toms River East

Deem returned the game’s opening kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown in the Raiders’ 17-14 win over Lacey.

Craig Iandoli and Christian Rath, Howell

Iandoli blocked a punt that Rath scooped up and returned 40 yards for a touchdown during the Rebels’ game against Brick Memorial.

SSN DIVISIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

AMERICAN

Offense

Chris Lotito, Sr., RB/DB, Middletown South

Lotito ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, threw a touchdown pass and pulled down an interception on defense as Middletown South topped Brick, 28-7, to secure a first-round home game in the Central, Group 4 playoffs.

Defense

Gordon Forsyth, Sr., LB, Rumson-Fair Haven

Although it came in a loss, Forsyth was outstanding against Jackson Memorial with double-digit tackles, one sack and four tackles for loss.

COLONIAL

Offense

Clarence Lewis, Sr., WR, Mater Dei Prep 

The Notre Dame commit caught six passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, a 67-yard score late in the third quarter, to help the Seraphs to a 17-0 win over Manalapan in a matchup between two of the top five teams in the Shore.

Defense

Hunter Smith, Sr., LB, Jackson Memorial

Smith recorded eight tackles, three tackles for loss and two pass deflections as Jackson’s defense yielded just 127 yards of offense in a 22-14 win over Rumson-Fair Haven.

CONSTITUTION

Offense

Cole Robinson, Sr., QB, Southern

On his birthday, Robinson completed 3 of 6 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown and added two touchdown runs as the Rams defeated Central, 21-16, to clinch a home playoff game in the South Jersey Group 5 bracket.

Defense

TJ McArthur, Jr., LB, Brick Memorial

McArthur had a fumble recovery and an interception and also ran for a 37-yard touchdown to help the Mustangs defeat Howell, 16-13.

FREEDOM

Offense (Besides overall winner, Colts Neck’s Romeo Thomas)

Nino Bua, Jr., QB, Neptune

Bua threw for 100 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 67 yards as the Scarlet Fliers defeated Matawan, 34-14, to give them the final push they needed to secure the final playoff spot in the South, Group 4 super section.

Defense

Yusuf Ahmed, Jr., LB, Toms River East

Ahmed made eight tackles with one tackle for loss and also ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on eight carries in the Raiders’ 17-14 win over Lacey that locked up a first-round home game in the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs.

LIBERTY

Offense

Jack Chamberlain, Sr., QB, Red Bank 

It was another big dual-threat performance by Chamberlain, who went 10-of-10 passing for 113 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs’ 42-14 win over Monmouth Regional.

Defense

Mike Kudlacik, Sr., LB, Lacey

The Lions fell to Toms River East, 17-14, but Kudlacik had a standout night with 11 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and one pass deflection.

PATRIOT

Offense

Trebor Pena, Sr., RB, Ocean 

The Shore Conference's leading rusher ran for 213 yards and a 96-yard touchdown on just 10 carries and also returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown in the Spartans’ 42-7 win over Marlboro that completed an undefeated regular season.

Defense

Griffin Jackstadt, Sr., DL, Barnegat

In a 33-6 win over Pinelands, Jackstadt recorded a team-high 10 tackles with one sack and three tackles for loss.

NATIONAL

Offense

Liam Buday, Sr., RB, Point Beach

Buday ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in the Garnet Gulls’ 31-20 win over Pennington. He also recorded six tackles with one tackle for loss on defense. 

Defense

Jason Sherlock, Sr., DE/TE, Point Beach

Sherlock recorded 15 tackles with three sacks, five tackles for loss, a blocked punt and a blocked extra point and also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in Point Beach’s 31-20 win over Pennington.

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.